Fallen Angel
A/N: The name of the story, Fallen Angel, comes from the idea that Draco calls Harry, in canon, "Saint Potter". However, Harry, in this story, is not the sweet, innocent Saint that everybody expects. He has fallen. A Fallen Angel. Thanks to RandomWriter2011 for coming up with that idea.
Harry's chance to prove himself came the following morning. It was almost the end of breakfast, and he, Ron and Hermione were sat at the Gryffindor table. All of a sudden, shouting could be heard out in the Entrance Hall. Going to see what the commotion was, the three found a huge crowd encircling two boys: Draco Malfoy, and an older seventh year Slytherin. The other boy was shouting.
"You have no right!"
"I have every right Pucey. I am a Prefect, you are not. Humiliation and enslavement of first years, especially during their first night here, is not encouraged at Hogwarts. As Prefect, I have the power to take points away from students. Hence why I took the fifty from you a moment ago."
"I am older than you, Malfoy. I am your elder, and you should respect me!"
"Rules are rules." Draco simply replied.
"Fuck the rules! Unless of course, you want me to tell your father you are a raging puff." Pucey threatened.
Draco drew his wand, but Pucey was quicker. With a quick Expelliarmus, Draco was defenceless. Pucey raised his wand for a second time, but before he could cast anything, Harry disarmed him. Stepping into the circle, he quickly summoned both of the Slytherins' wands whilst keeping his trained at the Slytherin Chaser. Slowly he advanced, until he was stood beside Draco.
"That wasn't very nice." Harry quietly said, whilst slowly handing Draco his wand back.
"Oh look Malfoy, your boyfriend's here to save you." Pucey jeered. "What's it got to do with you Potty? What you going to do about it?"
"Nothing, if you don't push it. Your problem is with the fact that Malfoy has taken points away from you, something he can do by the way. If you are going to say something, then you stay on topic. You do not bring a person's family into the equation, and you certainly do not degrade them by threatening them with their sexuality. I happen to know that Lucius Malfoy already knows of his son's preferences, so that doesn't work."
Pucey flared red with anger. "Are you threatening me Potter? Think you're scary don't you?" he snarled dangerously, all the while advancing on the Gryffindor.
Harry stood his ground. "As a matter of fact, I am. I strongly suggest you back off and accept the loss of points, or you will see just how scary I can be."
"And what are you going to do, huh? Report me to Mum and Dad? Oh sorry I forgot, you don't have them do you? The Dark Lord aims to the rid the world of mudblood and blood traitors, and what a better way to start than to make an example of your parents?"
Harry saw red. Wordlessly, he sent Pucey flying across the Entrance Hall, where he hit it with a resounding crack. Harry strode over to him menacingly, wand pointed at the other boy's head. As soon as he was close enough, he levitated the Slytherin into the air and proceeded to slowly choke him with a spell he had learnt from Tom. "I mean what I say Pucey. Back off, or I will get worse."
"Mr. Potter." Harry turned slightly to see Professor Snape standing next to him, having silently crept up on him. "What are you doing?"
"I'm teaching one of your students, this Torva, a lesson sir." He responded calmly.
"Well I suggest you release him from whatever spell you have him under, and the both of you follow me to my office. Now." Harry reluctantly complied, following Snape easily, Pucey following behind slowly, a good distance behind him.
Once in the Professor's office, Harry stood by his desk, waiting for the other man to speak.
"Now, Mr. Potter, I suggest you give me a very good reason as to why you had Mr. Pucey pinned up against the wall of the Entrance Hall, before I throw you in detention for the entire year."
"Well you see Professor, I heard a commotion in the Entrance Hall, and along with Ron and Hermione, I went to see what the problem was. In the middle of the circle that had formed around them was Pucey and Malfoy. Pucey was shouting his mouth off about the fact that Malfoy had taken points away from him, which he is within his rights to do."
"And why had Mr. Malfoy taken the points away Mr. Pucey?" Pucey mumbled a reply. "I suggest you speak up boy."
"I humiliated the first years and then tried to make them my slaves last night." He admitted, shamefully.
"So points being taken was rightly deserved then. Just be glad Mr. Malfoy did not give you a detention. However, Mr. Potter," he turned to the boy, "it still doesn't explain why you had one of my students under a curse and were, in your own words, 'teaching him a lesson'."
"Because, sir, not only did he threaten Malfoy with his family, and degrade him for his sexuality, he insulted my parents. You know yourself that I do not take insults towards my parents kindly."
"Very well. Mr. Pucey, you will receive a month's worth of detentions for your actions. You may leave." Pucey left, leaving Harry and the Professor in the room alone. "The question is, Mr. Potter, why were you, of all people, defending Mr. Malfoy?"
"That shall become clear soon. The question is though, Professor, did you notice my use of a certain name?"
"What are you talking about Potter?"
"I called Pucey a Torva, Professor."
"I'm surprised you know what that means." Snape answered nastily.
Harry smirked. "You're about to be more surprised then." He withdrew his wand and waved it across his face, forming the mask. Snape was in shock. The mask he wore to hide his emotions dropped to reveal the shock on his face. He fell into his seat.
"You are Torva?"
"Surprised Severus? And yes, I am Torva. As for why I am defending Draco, well, that's interesting. You see, I have offered him a position on my side. I am giving him the chance of escaping, not just Dumbledore's manipulation, but the torment and enslavement that will come from being a pawn of the Dark Lord's. I'm offering him a way out. I am also offering him help with the task he has been given. I know Narcissa came to you asking you to help him, and I know you made the Unbreakable Vow, but your help may not be needed if he chooses to join me. I promise you now Severus, before you say a word, I will keep him safe. When I defeat Voldemort, and when I rise to the top, I will take him with me."
"You hate him Potter, why would you want to help him?"
"I don't hate him Severus. I used to, but that was before I knew about this world properly and whilst I was still under Dumbledore's control. This isn't something that had come quickly, no, this is something that had been building for over a year now. I have always thought him to be quite manipulative, how else would he get what he wants all the time. That's why he would never take the position for Minister for Magic you see. If he was at the front, if he was the face of this country, he would never be able to get away with the things he has. At least this way, he can. But I say no more. I want Draco on side so I can keep him safe, like I already said, from the manipulation and enslavement that the other alternatives offer. As for why, well, for some time now I have certain…feelings, towards him."
"I do not need to know about your fantasies regarding my godson Potter. Just promise me one thing." Snape asked, albeit shy and ashamed at asking The Boy Who Lived for something. "Promise me that you will protect him and keep him safe. I think of Draco as my own son, and if anything were to happen to him, I would personally come for you."
"I promise Severus. Now you promise something for me." Harry strode forward and pointed his wand at the older man. "Promise me you will lay off me and my friends this year during your lessons. Continue hating me, my all means, but back off, or I promise you, I will make your life a living hell." Harry never gave the other man a chance to answer, instead he strode out of the office and left Snape alone, still in shock.
xxxxx
Later that night, an owl flew into the Gryffindor Common room through the open window. It was a majestic owl, an eagle owl as black as night, clearly one that had been bred specifically for a certain colour. In its mouth was a letter. It did one full sweep of the room before coming to rest on Harry's shoulder.
"Hello. And who do you belong to I wonder." Harry mumbled as he stroked the bird's chest. He took the letter from the bird's beak, who then proceeded, once free of its load, to go and sit on the sill of the window, waiting and watching the students.
"Who's sent you that Harry?" Hermione enquired.
"Muffliato." Harry cast the spell on every other student but himself and his two best friends. "looking at the script, I'd say Draco sent it."
"Well, what's it say?" Ron urged.
"Not here I don't think. The dorm, come on. Finite." He ended the spell and started towards the stairs, whistling the owl on his way, which perched on his shoulder gracefully.
Once all three were in the room, and sufficient locking charms and silencers had been placed on the door, Harry opened the letter and read it aloud. "'Dear Potter, I have considered your offer to join your…group. I would appreciate it if you met me tonight, same time and place as last night, so we could discuss things further. Bring Weasley and Granger if you wish. Reply using Aquila, he is a very obedient bird. Also, if you wish to send a letter without anyone recognising your owl, Hedwig is it, you may use him. Yours, DM.' Sounds to me like he's thinking about it."
"Why would he want us there?" Ron asked doubtfully.
"Maybe so he can apologise to us?" Hermione suggested hopefully.
"No, I don't think that's it. I think he wants witnesses, so if he were to be discovered by anyone, whether deliberate or accidental, he would be able to have back up to prove that he was not forced into this." Harry responded. "Either way, he doesn't mind if you're there. You gonna come?"
"Of course. He's a potential new recruit, and if you get him on side, a lot is going to change. We will be there to make sure he knows his place. Do you remember his name?" Hermione quizzed.
"Of course. Let me just write a reply and we'll go to lunch." Harry quickly scribbled an OK on another piece of parchment and gave it to Aquila, who took it in a huff. The bird watched in interest as the three humans left, shook its feathers, and flew out of the open window. Never ever would he understand humans.
xxxxx
Later that night, the same time as before, Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way up to the Astronomy Tower under the Invisibility Cloak. Once they reached the stairs, they rid themselves of it and put on their masks and hoods, before silently making their way up to the top. On the landing, they stood in silence, Harry at the front, Ron and Hermione at his flanks, waiting for Draco to notice them. It didn't take him long.
"You came."
"Of course. I said I would. You have thought more of my offer?" Harry asked as he came forward, closer to the other boy. Hermione and Ron moved to the sides of the room, effectively surrounding the Malfoy heir.
To his credit, if Draco felt intimidated, he never once showed it. "I have. I would appreciate it if you removed your mask Potter, so we can talk face to face. I would also appreciate it if Weasley and Granger removed theirs, so I could feel less like I've been led into a trap." He stared defiantly at Harry, who nodded once and returned his glasses to their original state, Hermione and Ron removing their masks also.
"Better? I am glad. You say you have thought more about it. And? What is your decision?"
"Can you promise me that I will be kept safe?"
"Yes." Harry replied confidently. Slowly he began to circle Draco, who never lost his composure, though he did stiffen slightly.
"You say that I will have my own free will."
"That is correct."
"When you win, you'll bring me to the top with you?"
"Ha, a typical Slytherin, always interested in what's in it for you. But yes, I would."
"You would keep my parents safe and out of prison. My mother and my father?"
"I promise to keep them safe, but I cannot promise that they, or your father at least, will remain out of prison. You understand why I can't?"
"Of course. You also promised that you would help me with my task?" Draco left the question open.
Harry came to a stop in front of him and stared his straight in the eye. "I did, and I will. We will," Harry reassured him, indicating the other two, "but only if you tell us what you plan to do."
"I can't do that. All I ask of you is do what I ask and not question it. A small price for allegiance to you, surely."
"A very small price." Hermione pointed out.
"Indeed. What else do you want Malfoy? Surely not just that."
"No, of course not," he replied, never taking his eyes off of the boy in front of him. "I would also like to apologise to the three of you for my inexcusable behaviour over the years. I ask for your forgiveness, and I ask for a chance to offer my friendship to you again."
"You want to apologise? What's more, you want to be our friend? You must be joking me." Ron exclaimed
But Harry, who had seen the honesty in the other boy's eyes as he spoke, knew different. "He's telling the truth Ron."
"Seriously?"
Harry turned his head slightly towards his oldest friend. "Seriously. I mean come on, what does he have to possibly gain from lying to us. I've already warned him what would happen if he got on the wrong side of me. He's telling the truth, and I trust him. Now enough, do not question my authority and judgement again."
Ron became silent. Draco, who was surprised at the way the Gryffindor had just spoken to his best friend, got his attention again. "Well, do you accept my apology?"
"I do, as I'm sure do Hermione and Ron. I will also accept your offer your friendship, though I think it should be done publicly to reduce the risk of rumours. But before I do, I have one final question. Are you with me, or not?"
Draco took a deep breath and responded calmly. "I am."
Harry smirked. "Excellent." He pulled a coin out of his pocket, specifically, the same one he had used to organise the DA meetings a year previous. "Take hold of the coin with me, we are going to see Tom and going to get you marked." Hermione and Ron disappeared as he said this.
Draco paused slightly to reassure himself he was doing the right thing, before taking hold of the coin and disappearing into the darkness…
xxxxx